RUDY GIULIANI, Republican

January 3, 2008 8:35:16 AM PST

The former New York City mayor is 63 years old.

CAREER: Stepped down this year as head of Giuliani Partners consulting firm; New York mayor, 1994-2001; U.S. attorney, Southern District of New York, 1983-88; associate attorney general, U.S. Department of Justice, 1981-82.

EDUCATION: B.A., Manhattan College, 1965; J.D., New York University Law School, 1968.

FAMILY: Wife, Judith Nathan. His earlier marriage to Regina Peruggi was annulled, and his second marriage to Donna Hanover ended in divorce. Two children, Andrew and Caroline, from his marriage to Hanover.

THE ISSUES

ABORTION:

Favors abortion rights

EDUCATION:

Favors vouchers for school choice.

GAY MARRIAGE

Does not support same-sex marriage, but sees no need to amend Constitution to ban it.

Has supported domestic partnership benefits for gay couples

GLOBAL WARMING:

Not sure how much global warming is caused by human activity. "I believe human beings are contributing to it." "I think the best way to deal with it is through energy independence."

Considers expanding nuclear power as well as alternative energy.

GUN CONTROL:

Says states should decide appropriate gun controls (as New York mayor and Senate prospect in 2000, favored variety of federal controls, including ban on assault-style weapons and waiting period for purchases.)

Also favors a federal mandate to register handgun owners and require handgun buyers to "demonstrate good moral character and a reason to have the gun."

HEALTH INSURANCE:

Supports income tax deduction of $7,500 per taxpayer to defray insurance costs.

Wants tax credit for poorer workers to supplement Medicaid and employer contributions as part of "market-driven" expansion of affordable coverage.

Wants expanded use of health savings accounts.

Sees no mandate for universal coverage.

IMMIGRATION:

Open to conferring legal status if proficiency in English and payment of back taxes and penalties are among conditions, and if applicants in the legal system are not disadvantaged.

Urges use of tamper-proof ID cards for immigrants.

Says most of U.S.-Mexico border should be policed with high-tech monitoring, supplemented by a fence in some parts.

IRAQ:

Supported troop increase and prosecution of the war.

SOCIAL SECURITY:

Favors using a portion of payroll taxes to finance private retirement accounts.

Rules out a tax increase to save Social Security.

TAXES:

Would extend Bush's tax cuts, which could cost $2.3 trillion to keep in place until 2017.

Wants to hold the line on marginal tax rates or reduce them, and establish a permanent child tax credit.

Would index the alternative minimum tax to inflation.

Wants income tax deduction of $7,500 per taxpayer to defray health insurance costs.

Seeks spending caps of 5 percent or more on civilian agencies.

Would slash bureaucracy by rehiring only half the number of employees who retire.

STANDINGS:

Had 5 percent support in Dec. 31st Des Moines Register Iowa Poll.

MISCELLANEOUS

Giuliani was in his final days as New York mayor when two planes crashed into the World Trade Center's twin towers on Sept. 11, 2001. He quickly became a national hero; within hours of the attack, the mayor, caked in dust, was visiting ground zero and walking through the chaos -- a scene shown repeatedly on television. He was dubbed "America's Mayor" by Oprah Winfrey and was named Time magazine's Person of the Year for 2001.